I woke up this morning to find yet another piece of tabloid journalism about the Hillsong Church and their alleged involvement with Australian Idol. This article talks about how the church are threatening to sue Today Tonight over these allegations, made in three “exclusive” stories recently.
I realised I haven’t talked about these stories that have littered the media. I believed they’d probably die down just as quickly as they flared up. But unlike other years (because if you’ve followed Idol for as long as I have, these stories crop up every year), this seems to be the story that won’t go away. So I figured I’d weigh in on the subject.
If you haven’t kept abreast of the gossip rags, the story goes a little something like this. Current affairs program Today Tonight claim that four of the remaining Australian Idol finalists – Tarisai Vushe, Matt Corby, Ben McKenzie, and Daniel Mifsud – are members of the Hillsong church. They say this church has manipulated its congregation to vote for these four, and are therefore unfairly influencing the outcome of the show.
Hillsong denied any of the contestants are members of their church. It then came out that the quartet are members of the Assemblies of God churches, which includes Hillsong, and Shirelive. It was also revealed that past finalists Guy Sebastian, Paulini, and Dean Geyer were also members of the Assemblies of God.
And then there were seven. After being a regular in the bottom three, it was no great surprise to bid farewell to Jacob Butler last night.
The Melbourne lad was gracious in defeat, displaying humility at odds to his often cocky and brash onstage persona.
“It’s one of those things, it’s a competition,” he told the Idol crowd last night.
“Everyone here is just so good it can go any way. I was here last week and I’m here again, so well I’m going home now.”
The biggest surprise on the night was that Central Coast lad Marty Simpson again escaped the bottom three. Many felt Marty’s number was up after Dicko begged Australia not to vote for him. I guess no one listens to Dicko; Daniel Mifsud and Carl Riseley earned fewer votes.
Next week the contestants can choose songs from the year of their birth. With so many young performers this year, expect plenty of music from the 80s!
Last night the Australian Idol’s tackled the best of Britain. This new theme gave the Idols so many great songs to choose from, and they didn’t disappoint. That was especially true of Tarisai and Matt, who both earned touchdowns for their efforts.
Carl Riseley was first up, taking inspiration from Michael Bublé’s version of The Beatles’ hit “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Perhaps my being a Michael Bublé fan makes me feel a bit negatively towards Carl when he takes on this kind of challenge. He always just seems like the poor man’s version. His vocals are getting a lot better, but he still doesn’t seem to have the energy or charisma to pull this kind of thing off for me.
Tarasai Vushe was next on the stage with the Queen epic “Somebody to Love.” When it first started I was a bit skeptical and craving a greater connection, but it seemed to amp up after the first chorus. From there it was amazing, but I’m not sure whether half an amazing song deserves a touchdown. Perhaps you had to be there, as everyone was standing on their feet for this effort.
I was also a bit nervous when I heard Ben McKenzie was tackling Oasis’ “Wonderwall.” Honestly, I’ve never liked this song. It’s so whiny, and it was released in my last year of high school so it always makes me think of that. Anyway, I really loved what Ben brought to it. I understand Dicko’s comment that it felt very Disney, but I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much. It was light, beautiful, and uplifting, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Marty Simpson’s performance will probably be remembered for the judges’ comments, rather than what he actually did. It’s a shame, because his cover of The Kooks’ “Naïve” was very cool. I think playing with a guitar last week marked a turning point for Marty, he’s seemed a lot more comfortable ever since. But Dicko has begged Australia not to vote for Marty. He says the competition’s not right for Marty, who agreed that he’d be happy enough to leave. Personally I’m torn. I think he is growing and learning, and he wasn’t the weakest performer last night. But then again, I’m a Coastie. I certainly wouldn’t mind him honing his craft and playing some local shows.
Jacob Butler also decided to give The Beatles a whirl. His cover of “Let It Be” did show some vocal weaknesses, but it was also incredibly beautiful. I think every week he’s allowing us to see more of himself, and I’m really enjoying that journey. I also think he showed great bravery picking such a challenging song. It would have been so easy for him to cop out with more Oasis!
I loved what Daniel Mifsud did with The Police smash, “Message in a Bottle.” Daniel is another performer who’s really growing on Idol, becoming less imitative and pushing more boundaries. This was a really exciting arrangement which saved the song from flat lining.
After so many cool performances, I felt a bit sorry for Natalie Gauci. She sang well, as she always does, but Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” was not the song for her. I would have preferred her to have delved into the archives a bit and pulled out some Dusty Springfield, Lulu, or even some Annie Lennox. This performance just wasn’t believable at all.
Matt Corby closed the show with yet another touchdown-winning performance. The competition’s golden boy chose The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony,” and built it beautifully. This kid really understands music, and it shows. It’s so hard to criticise him – I can only fault him on his choice of jacket!
It was another great show and another verdict that will go down to the wire. Based on last night’s performance, I’d pick Carl to go. But the controversy surrounding Marty’s performance may see him make an early exit. Then again, if last week has told us anything it’s that no one is safe! Make sure you tune in tonight to see which way it goes!
No sooner had Mark Da Costa unplugged his amplifier than the Australian Idol rock god was eliminated from the show.
The show’s oldest competitor became the first male to get the boot after his bluesy reworking of “Yellow” on Sunday night.
The verdict seemed the shock the judges and other contestants, but it came as no surprise to Mark.
“It’s like the first audition for Idol, I had this bug saying ‘Go and audition you’ll do really well’. But tonight I had this bug that’s like it ended, I had this bug that it’s gonna end,” he told the crowd.
No doubt next week’s Brit-pop theme will suit Jacob Butler. The Melbourne lad will be looking for a better reception after finding himself in the bottom three along with touchdown king Daniel Mifsud.
It’s a new theme for Idol, and one that I have mixed thoughts about. I only hope our contestants look beyond Coldplay, Oasis, and Blur and cover some older, and much cooler, British music.
I’d been really looking forward to Australian Idol’s acoustic night, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. There was only one touchdown but several other performances that probably deserved them. One even moved me to tears! Of course, all this isn’t surprising considering the Idols had some help from Australian music legend, Ian Moss. If you’re going to perform acoustically, you can’t ask for a better mentor than Mossy.
Mark Da Costa was first up with his country-blues inspired interpretation of Coldplay’s “Yellow.” I must admit, this one lost me early. The moment he sang “thang” instead of “thing” I cringed, and I didn’t really recover. We certainly don’t say “thang” in Australia, even Chris Martin doesn’t say “thang.” It just came across very affected. I admire what he tried to do in terms of making the song his own, but I don’t feel he even came close.
Natalie Gauci helped to remove the bad taste in my mouth with her rendition of “Man in the Mirror.” It’s easy to forget exactly how good Michael Jackson’s music was, isn’t it? It was a great song choice and a beautiful interpretation. Natalie seemed so at home behind the piano, and that translated into a really breathtaking performance.
Carl Riseley was back in swing mode with his cover of the Cole Porter classic “It’s Alright With Me.” I really enjoyed hearing Carl play the trumpet, but I can’t say the singing grabbed me nearly as much. It was quite weak in a lot of places, and that distracted me from how much fun he seemed to be having.
Jacob Butler received a lukewarm response to his rendition of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know,” but I really enjoyed it. It was so refreshing to see him just stand there and deliver a song without the theatrics. This was definitely Jacob at his most honest and believable.
It was Matt Corby that made me cry with his amazing version of “The Blower’s Daughter.” The song choice already had me on side – it’s one of my favourites – and I was so impressed by Matt’s interpretation. He really does have a maturity beyond his years, and an uncanny ability to live in the lyrics of the songs he chooses. How last week’s performance was touchdown-worthy and this wasn’t I’ll never know.
Matt may have missed out on a touchdown this time around, but Daniel Mifsud didn’t. His surprising take on Kiss’ “I Was Made for Loving You” struck the right chord with Mark, earning him the ultimate compliment. I was so impressed by this arrangement – it really allowed the song’s romantic lyrics to shine. I also feel Daniel tends to imitate the original recordings, so it was lovely to hear him being himself.
Ben McKenzie managed to match the intensity of his cover of “Mad World” this week, with his take on Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek.” I was spellbound by this one, and probably would have cried again if my cat hadn’t started to play up! Like Matt, Ben also has such a gift for interpreting lyrics. He also manages to be mature, but still innocently childlike. A massive wow factor here.
While Ben wowed me, Tarisai Vushe underwhelmed me. I’ll be honest and say I’ve always found Des’Ree’s “Kissing You” a little on the boring side. Tarisai didn’t really bring anything to her performance to change my mind on that score. Yes she sang it very well, but I didn’t really care about it.
Marty Simpson has been hanging out to play with his guitar, and he didn’t disappoint with his cover of Snow Patrol’s “Open Your Eyes.” He seemed so much more relaxed on stage, and this made the whole performance very enjoyable. He really does need to watch his timing, but I could forgive that simply because he was doing the kind of performance he wanted to do.
Tonight’s verdict is going to be a really close call after so many outstanding performances. I’d like to think Mark will go, but that’s probably wishful thinking as his fan base seems to be very strong. The same goes for Carl, although I do find him a lot more likeable. I’m going to stick with those predictions though because I’m not ready to say goodbye to the others just yet!
After consistently bad reviews, Lana Krost bowed out of the Australian Idol finals last night. Her performance of Moloko’s “Sing It Back” was undoubtedly her strongest, but it wasn’t enough to convince Australia.
The pretty Perth teen took the news well, declaring “I’m going to look at it like I came 10th out of 35, 000 people.”
Good for her! The elimination probably came at a good time, as Lana can now focus on her year 12 final exams next week.
The biggest surprise of the night wasn’t Lana’s elimination, but the other Idols standing with her in the bottom three. Despite solid performances, Tarisai Vushe and Daniel Mifsud failed to connect with the voting public.
They’ll be looking for stronger performances on next week’s acoustic show. This is a theme I’m definitely looking forward to, as the singers can play instruments. This is what being an artist is all about, so the show will give us a real indication of the star potential of our top nine.
Last night our Australian Idol hopefuls showed they can bust a move with outstanding disco grooves. There were plenty of top-notch performances, but last night’s standout was Matt Corby who scored the season’s first touchdown.
Tarisai Vushe started the night with the disco classic “Hot Stuff.” She definitely looked the part, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by her performance which verged on shouting in places. It was a solid effort, but not the showstopper I expected from her.
Ben McKenzie almost scored a touchdown for his take on “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” I loved how Ben built this, taking it from emotive ballad to dance floor filler. He had all the moves down and interpreted the song perfectly. A really good job.
Mark Da Costa played it smart, choosing “Nutbush City Limits.” The song fit the disco genre without forcing Mark to stray too far from his rock roots. He matched Tina Turner’s rasp perfectly and got the crowd dancing.
Lana Krost also made a smart song choice with Moloko’s “Bring it Back.” So often performers stumble by choosing songs they don’t really understand from decades before. By keeping it contemporary, Lana really shone. She’s still a bit weaker than some of the other performers, but every week she’s improving and that needs to be commended.
Jacob Butler was one of the performers most likely to struggle with disco. Unlike Mark, who chose a rock-edged disco number, Jacob decided to tackle one of the genre’s modern masters with Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat.” I admire that he embraced the genre and decided to play it straight, but it didn’t quite work for me. Jay Kay’s vocals are so demanding, and Jacob’s voice wasn’t really up to the task.
Marty Simpson decided to give Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing” a reggae vibe. While the judges’ verdicts were mixed, I personally love what he did here. I’m not a huge disco fan, but I think he actually delivered his best performance this competition. It was a really clever choice for a guy that was always going to struggle with straight disco.
Daniel Mifsud also gave one of his best performances with his cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.” Song choice was always going to be critical this week, with so many Idols stepping into unfamiliar territory. This was another canny decision, combining disco with Daniel’s preferred genres of rock and soul. I felt this was his most believable performance since the auditions, a real return to form.
In my mind, Carl Riseley was last night’s surprise package. No one could accuse him of straying from the genre this week, with his traditional delivery of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September.” His falsetto was a bit weak, but it didn’t matter. What I loved most about this is that it looked like Carl was having fun for the first time this year. And that’s exactly what disco is all about!
Matt Corby also decided to dazzle us with a little Earth, Wind and Fire. His version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” actually earned him the season’s first touchdown. Great vocals, great interpretation, a touchdown that was well deserved.
If we hadn’t seen a little Gloria Gaynor on disco night I would have been sorely disappointed. Natalie Gauci came through with the goods, delivering a near perfect rendition of “I Will Survive.” I say near perfect, because like Mark the vocal gymnastics bug me too. Hopefully she takes this advice on board and gets that touchdown next week.
It’s going to be a close race before tonight’s elimination. My heart thinks Jacob Butler might go, considering how close he came last week. It’ll be a real shame though, as he certainly gave this week his all. Lana Krost’s run may also come to an end, which would also be a shame as she’s learning so much. Still, I’m at that point where I don’t really want anyone to leave! Who’s your pick to go?
Brianna Carpenter is the second Idol hopeful to leave the reality talent quest, following a painful performance of Supertramp’s “The Logical Song.”
Rock was always going to be a stretch for the Brisbane music student, but it appeared that “sound issues” may have been her greatest challenge. Last night she assured the crowd last night they had not see the last of her.
“This isn’t the end for me by any means,” she said.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that she’s right. I was entranced by Brianna from her first audition, and would love to hear more of her original material.
Marty Simpson and Jacob Butler were also in the bottom three, so they’ll need to lift their game for next week’s disco theme.
A diverse range of Australian artists have made their mark on the ARIA charts this week.
Fergie may have kept her stranglehold on the singles chart with her mammoth hit, “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” but she’s faced stiff competition from Shannon Noll. His new single “Loud” has debuted at number three.
Fellow Australian Idol graduate Ricki-Lee has slipped two places with “Can’t Touch It,” but the pop smash is still sitting pretty at number seven.
Jetsetting folksters The Waifs have debuted at number two with their latest album, Sun Dirt Water. But they couldn’t shift the might of British opera star Paul Potts, who holds the number one spot for the second week with One Chance.
The Waifs have pushed Damien Leith’s album Where We Land to number four. The John Butler Trio’s Grand National and Powderfinger’sDream Days at the Hotel Existence round out the top ten. They’re holding steady at ninth and tenth spot.
Victoria’s Holly Weinert was the first Idol hopeful to get the chop last night, after her new punk image failed to impress.
Holly took a big risk singing The Gossip’s “Standing in the Way of Control,” a dramatic departure from her regular alt-country fare.
“I had a feeling,” she told the crowd last night. “I knew sort of all the way along that the song choice was not one that everyone would know, but I think I have to be true to myself and that’s who I am.”
Honestly, I think it was statements like this that saw Holly ousted from the comp. I’m all for versatility, but throughout the competition she presented herself as a mellow indie folkster. Such a major shift, coupled with the insistence that this is who she is, undoubtedly alienated the fans who’d voted her into the competition, myself included. Perhaps Holly would have been better off saving this aspect of her personality for next week’s rock-themed show.
Don’t worry about Holly though. In an interview with Central Coast radio station Star FM this morning, she said she was “relieved” to be free of the competition’s pressure. She was also quick to laugh off rumours of a budding romance between Brianna Carpenter and Matt Corby, insisting the two are just good friends.
involvement with Australian Idol. This article talks about how the church are threatening to sue Today Tonight over these allegations, made in three “exclusive” stories recently.